Photo Record

Catalog Number

WF 0755.A,B,C

Caption

William V. Wells

Description

Photo of William V. Wells on the frozen Yukon River in front of Dawson, Yukon Territory, during the 1898 Alaska Gold Rush. Wells, 1866-1951, was an attorney who came to Anacortes with the Boom of 1890. The 5-15-1890, ANACORTES AMERICAN advertised "Wells & Joiner, attorneys-at-law, corner of P & 4th." On 5-20-1897 Wells lost his wife, Daisy, in childbirth after she had delivered twin boys; the babies both died as well. Wells then headed north to the Yukon and participated in the Klondike Gold Rush where this image was taken. Read the story of his trip to Alaska in FIRST VIEWS: AN EARLY HISTORY OF SKAGIT COUNTY, p. 103-105. Wells returned to Anacortes and continued to practice law. He purchased the Platt Building on the SW corner of 4th and P/Commercial, which subsequently became known as the Wells Building. The structure served as the office base for many Anacortes professionals, from lawyers to doctors and dentists. Wells served as Anacortes mayor in 1909, and regularly hosted a yearly picnic for the teachers of Anacortes; see the 3-25-1909, ANACORTES AMERICAN, "Mayor Wells gives his annual picnic." WF 0068 shows one such picnic. In 1912 Wells was elected to the state legislature and served until 1921, during which time he lobbied heavily for the construction of Deception Pass Bridge. He married Verna Wolverton ,1894-1979, in 1916 and with her had two sons, John and William. Wells later purchased the Goodwin-Benedict-Havekost Building between 5th and 6th on Commercial. The 5-17-1951, paper reported on Wells' funeral. See WF 0756 and 0782 for additional photos of him.